FORE:"Stouter, and darker. What black brows he has, Mus' Piper!"His new occupation, however, gave him undreamed-of opportunities. One of the advantages of shepherding was that it alternated periods of strenuous work with others of comparative idleness. During these Richard would pore over his "hic, h?c, hoc," and parse and analyse on[Pg 131] bits of waste paper. He learned very quickly, and was soon casting about for means to buy a Greek grammar. He felt that his father could not possibly keep him at the farm if he knew both Latin and Greek.
Holgrave answered carelessly, and without looking at the smith, continued his work."He's a stouter man than his brother.""Mother?she's used to it, and she's tougher than you, liddle creature."Caro shrank from the jibe as if from a blow, and Reuben laughed brutally. He had made one woman suffer anyway.